GH10 Xylanase, GH62 Arabinofuranosidase, Milling Process and other Application

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an improved process of treating crop kernels to provide a starch product of high quality suitable for conversion of starch into mono- and oligosaccharides, ethanol, sweeteners. The present invention also provides polypeptides having GH10 xylanase activity, polypeptides having GH62 arabinofuranosidase activity and the uses thereof.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

This application contains a Sequence Listing in computer readable form, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved process of treating crop kernels to provide a starch product of high quality suitable for conversion of starch into mono- and oligosaccharides, ethanol, sweeteners, etc. The present invention relates to polypeptides having GH10 xylanase activity and polypeptides having GH62 arabinofuranosidase activity. The present invention also relates to a process for extraction or separation of crude palm oil. Further, the invention also relates to an enzyme composition comprising one or more enzyme activities suitable for the process of the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Description of the Related Art

Wet milling is often used for separating corn kernels into its four basic components: starch, germ, fiber and protein.

Typically, wet milling processes comprise four basic steps. First the kernels are soaked or steeped for about 30 minutes to about 48 hours to begin breaking the starch and protein bonds. The next step in the process involves a coarse grind to break the pericarp and separate the germ from the rest of the kernel. The remaining slurry consisting of fiber, starch and protein is finely ground and screened to separate the fiber from the starch and protein. The starch is separated from the remaining slurry in hydrocyclones. The starch then can be converted to syrup or alcohol, or dried and sold as corn starch or chemically or physically modified to produce modified corn starch.

The use of enzymes has been suggested for the steeping step of wet milling processes. The commercial enzyme product Steepzyme® (available from Novozymes A/S) has been shown suitable for the first step in wet milling processes, i.e., the steeping step where corn kernels are soaked in water.

More recently, “enzymatic milling”, a modified wet-milling process that uses proteases to significantly reduce the total processing time during corn wet milling and eliminates the need for sulfur dioxide as a processing agent, has been developed. Johnston et al., Cereal Chem, 81, p. 626-632 (2004).

U.S. Pat. No. 6,566,125 discloses a method for obtaining starch from maize involving soaking maize kernels in water to produce soaked maize kernels, grinding the soaked maize kernels to produce a ground maize slurry, and incubating the ground maize slurry with enzyme (e.g., protease).

U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,218 discloses a method of milling grain, especially corn, comprising cleaning the grain, steeping the grain in water to soften it, and then milling the grain with a cellulase enzyme.

WO 2002/000731 discloses a process of treating crop kernels, comprising soaking the kernels in water for 1-12 hours, wet milling the soaked kernels and treating the kernels with one or more enzymes including an acidic protease.

WO 2002/000911 discloses a process of starch gluten separation, comprising subjecting mill starch to an acidic protease.

WO 2002/002644 discloses a process of washing a starch slurry obtained from the starch gluten separation step of a milling process, comprising washing the starch slurry with an aqueous solution comprising an effective amount of acidic protease.

Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil which is obtained from the mesocarp of palm fruits. Palm fruits or fruitlets grow in large bunches. The palm fruitlets are stripped from the fruit bunches after being sterilized. The high temperature causes the enzymes naturally occurring enzymes in the palm fruits to denature and facilitates stripping of the fruits from the bunch stalks. The palm fruitlets are discharged into vessels commonly referred to as digesters, whereby a digested mash of palm fruits are produced under controlled temperature. The digested mash is then pressed, e.g. by using a screw press for subsequent recovery of palm oil. The crude palm oil may be subjected to screening, e.g. to remove coarse fibers, and then to a clarification process to separate oil from water, cell debris and any remaining fibrous material.

Palm fruit mesocarp contains large amounts of oil present as oil droplets within the mesocarp cells. Generally, the oil extraction rate (OER), which is a measure of the amount of extracted oil relative to the weight of the palm fruits is within the range of 20-24%, depending e.g. on fruit quality, and is subject to seasonal variation. In general, the palm oil milling process has been carefully optimized at each mill to minimize oil losses to the extent possible but there is still a strong incentive to improve the OER.

WO 2012/011130 discloses an enzyme composition (with exocellulolytic, pectinolytic, mammanolytic and glucanoloytic activity) used in a process for palm oil extraction.

There remains a need for improvement of processes for wet milling or palm oil extraction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a process for treating crop kernels, comprising the steps of: a) soaking kernels in water to produce soaked kernels; b) grinding the soaked kernels; c) and treating the soaked kernels or a fraction of said corn kernels in the presence of an effective amount of a polypeptide having GH62 arabinofuranosidase activity and/or a polypeptide having GH10 xylanase activity; wherein step c) is performed before, during or after step b).

In one embodiment, the process of the present invention further comprising fiber washing step.

In one embodiment, the process of the present invention further comprising starch gluten separation step and starch washing step.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a process metioned above wherein step c) is performed during fiber washing step.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a process metioned above wherein the soaking is performed in the presence of between 0.01-1%, preferably 0.05-0.3%, especially 0.1% SO₂ and/or NaHSO₃.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a process metioned above wherein the crop kernels are from corn (maize), rice, barley, sorghum bean, or fruit hulls, or wheat.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a process metioned above further comprising treating the soaked crop kernels or a fraction of said corp kernels in the presence of one or more cellulolytic enzyme(s), preferably the one or more hydrolytic enzymes is expressed in an organism, such as Trichoderma reesei.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a process metioned above wherein said corp kernels or a fraction of said corp kernels is admixed with said one or more hydrolytic enzymes, preferably the one or more hydrolytic enzymes is expressed in an organism, such as Trichoderma reesei.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a process metioned above wherein comprising treating the soaked crop kernels or a fraction of said corp kernels in the presence of a polypeptide having GH30 xylanase activity.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a process metioned above further comprising treating the soaked crop kernels or a fraction of said corp kernels in the presence of an enzyme selected from the group consisting of a cellulolytic enzyme or a cellulase, an endoglucanase, a protease, a cellobiohydrolase I, a cellobiohydrolase II, a GH61 polypeptide, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a process metioned above wherein the GH62 polypeptide having arabinofuranosidase activity is derived from a strain of genus Aspergillus, such as a strain of Aspergillus niger.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a process metioned above wherein the polypeptide having GH62 arabinofuranosidase activity is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 85%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 or the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 3;

(b) a variant of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 or the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 3 comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more (several) positions.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a process metioned above wherein the polypeptide having GH10 xylanase activity is derived from a strain of the genus Aspergillus, such as a strain of Aspergillus niger.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a process metioned above wherein the polypeptide having GH10 xylanase activity is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 85%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4;

(b) a variant of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4 comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more (several) positions.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a process metioned above wherein the polypeptide having GH30 xylanase activity is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 85%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6;

(b) a variant of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6 comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more (several) positions.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a process metioned above wherein the polypeptide having GH30 xylanase activity is derived from a strain of the genus Bacillus, such as a strain of Bacillus subtilis.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a process metioned above wherein the fiber washing step comprise a space configured to provide a total retention time in the fiber washing system of at least 0.5 hour, preferably at least 2 hours, most preferably at least 4 hours.

The invention also provides a polypeptide having GH62 arabinofuranosidase activity, selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 85%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1;

(b) a variant of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more (several) positions;

(c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 85%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or the cDNA sequence thereof.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide having GH62 arabinofuranosidase activity of the invention is derived from a strain of the genus Aspergillus, such as a strain of Aspergillus niger.

The invention also provides a polypeptide having GH10 xylanase activity, selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 85%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4;

(b) a variant of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4 comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more (several) positions;

(c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 85%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or the cDNA sequence thereof.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide having GH10 xylanase activity of the invention is derived from a strain of the genus Aspergillus, such as a strain of Aspergillus niger.

The invention also provides a process for extraction or separation of crude palm oil, comprising the steps of: contacting a substrate comprising palm oil with an enzyme composition, extracting or separating the crude palm oil; wherein the enzyme composition comprises a GH10 xylanase and a GH62 arabinofuranosidase.

In one embodiment, the GH10 xylanase of the present invention and the GH62 arabinofuranosidase of the present invention are defined in any one of the preceding embodiments.

The invention also provides a use of a polypeptide having GH62 arabinofuranosidase activity, a polypeptide having GH10 xylanase activity, or a polypeptide having GH30 xylanase activity, to improve the total starch yield and/or gluten yield from corn kernels in a process as defined in any one of the preceding embodiments or to improve oil yield from crude palm oil in a process defined in any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein, preferably the said polypeptides are defined in any one of the preceding embodiments.

The invention also provides an enzyme composition comprising or consisting of a GH62 arabinofuranosidase, a GH10 xylanase, and/or a GH30 xylanase, preferably, the GH62 arabinofuranosidase, the GH10 xylanase and/or the GH30 xylanase is defined in any one of the preceding embodiments.

In one embodiment, the enzyme composition of the present invention further comprising of one or more hydrolytic enzymes, preferably one or more cellulolytic enzyme, preferably, the one or more cellulolytic enzymes is expressed in an organism, such as Trichoderma reesei.

Definitions

Arabinofuranosidase: The term “arabinofuranosidase” means an alpha-L-arabinofuranoside arabinofuranohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.55) that catalyzes the hydrolysis of terminal non-reducing alpha-L-arabinofuranoside residues in alpha-L-arabinosides. The enzyme acts on alpha-L-arabinofuranosides, alpha-L-arabinans containing (1,3)- and/or (1,2)- and/or (1,5)-linkages, arabinoxylans, and arabinogalactans. Alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase is also known as arabinosidase, alpha-arabinosidase, alpha-L-arabinosidase, alpha-arabinofuranosidase, polysaccharide alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase, alpha-L-arabinofuranoside hydrolase, L-arabinosidase, or alpha-L-arabinanase. Arabinofuranosidase activity can be determined using 5 mg of medium viscosity wheat arabinoxylan (Megazyme International Ireland, Ltd., Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland) per ml of 100 mM sodium acetate pH 5 in a total volume of 200 μl for 30 minutes at 40° C. followed by arabinose analysis by AMINEX® HPX-87H column chromatography (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Hercules, Calif., USA).

The arabinofuranosidase of the present invention have at least at least 20%, e.g., at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the arabinofuranosidase activity of one or more of the polypeptides selected from the list consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 3.

Arabinoxylan-containing material: The term “Arabinoxylan-containing material” means any material containing arabinoxylan. Arabinoxylan is a hemicellulose found in both the primary and secondary cell walls of plants, including woods and cereal grains, consisting of copolymers of two pentose sugars, arabinose and xylose. The arabinoxylan chain contains a large number of 1,4-linked xylose units. Many xylose units are substituted with 2-, 3- or 2,3-substituted arabinose residues.

Examples of arabinoxylan-containing material are forage, roughage, seeds and grains (either whole or prepared by crushing, milling, etc from e.g. corn, oats, rye, barley, wheat), trees or hard woods (such as poplar, willow, eucalyptus, palm, maple, birch), bamboo, herbaceous and/or woody energy crops, agricultural food and feed crops, animal feed products, cassava peels, cocoa pods, sugar cane, sugar beet, locust bean pulp, vegetable or fruit pomaces, wood waste, bark, shavings, sawdust, wood pulp, pulping liquor, waste paper, cardboard, construction and demolition wood waste, industrial or municipal waste water solids or sludge, manure, by-product from brewing and/or fermentation processes, wet distillers grain, dried distillers grain, spent grain, vinasse and bagasse.

Forage as defined herein also includes roughage. Forage is fresh plant material such as hay and silage from forage plants, grass and other forage plants, grass and other forage plants, seaweed, sprouted grains and legumes, or any combination thereof. Examples of forage plants are Alfalfa (Lucerne), birdsfoot trefoil, brassica (e.g. kale, rapeseed (canola), rutabaga (swede), turnip), clover (e.g. alsike clover, red clover, subterranean clover, white clover), grass (e.g. Bermuda grass, brome, false oat grass, fescue, heath grass, meadow grasses, miscanthus, orchard grass, ryegrass, switchgrass, Timothy-grass), corn (maize), hemp, millet, barley, oats, rye, sorghum, soybeans and wheat and vegetables such as beets. Crops suitable for ensilage are the ordinary grasses, clovers, alfalfa, vetches, oats, rye and maize. Forage further includes crop residues from grain production (such as corn stover; straw from wheat, barley, oat, rye and other grains); residues from vegetables like beet tops; residues from oilseed production like stems and leaves form soy beans, rapeseed and other legumes; and fractions from the refining of grains for animal or human consumption or from fuel production or other industries.

Roughage is generally dry plant material with high levels of fiber, such as fiber, bran, husks from seeds and grains and crop residues (such as stover, copra, straw, chaff, sugar beet waste).

Preferred sources of arabinoxylan-containing materials are forage, roughage, seeds and grains, sugar cane, sugar beet and wood pulp.

cDNA: The term “cDNA” means a DNA molecule that can be prepared by reverse transcription from a mature, spliced, mRNA molecule obtained from a eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell. cDNA lacks intron sequences that may be present in the corresponding genomic DNA. The initial, primary RNA transcript is a precursor to mRNA that is processed through a series of steps, including splicing, before appearing as mature spliced mRNA.

Xylanase: The term “xylanase” means a 1,4-beta-D-xylan-xylohydrolase (E.C. 3.2.1.8) that catalyses the endohydrolysis of 1,4-beta-D-xylosidic linkages in xylans. Xylanase activity can be determined with 0.2% AZCL-arabinoxylan as substrate in 0.01% TRITON® X-100 and 200 mM sodium phosphate pH 6 at 37° C. One unit of xylanase activity is defined as 1.0 μmole of azurine produced per minute at 37° C., pH 6 from 0.2% AZCL-arabinoxylan as substrate in 200 mM sodium phosphate pH 6.

In one aspect, the GH10 xylanase of the present invention have at least 20%, e.g., at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the xylanase activity of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4.

In one aspect, the GH30 xylanase of the present invention have at least 20%, e.g., at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the xylanase activity of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6.

Cellobiohydrolase: The term “cellobiohydrolase” means a 1,4-beta-D-glucan cellobiohydrolase (E.C. 3.2.1.91 and E.C. 3.2.1.176) that catalyzes the hydrolysis of 1,4-beta-D-glucosidic linkages in cellulose, cellooligosaccharides, or any beta-1,4-linked glucose containing polymer, releasing cellobiose from the reducing end (cellobiohydrolase I) or non-reducing end (cellobiohydrolase II) of the chain (Teed, 1997, Trends in Biotechnology 15: 160-167; Teed et al., 1998, Biochem. Soc. Trans. 26: 173-178). Cellobiohydrolase activity can be determined according to the procedures described by Lever et al., 1972, Anal. Biochem. 47: 273-279; van Tilbeurgh et al., 1982, FEBS Letters 149: 152-156; van Tilbeurgh and Claeyssens, 1985, FEBS Letters 187: 283-288; and Tomme et al., 1988, Eur. J. Biochem. 170: 575-581.

Cellulolytic enzyme or cellulase: The term “cellulolytic enzyme” or “cellulase” means one or more (e.g., several) enzymes that hydrolyze a cellulosic material. Such enzymes include endoglucanase(s), cellobiohydrolase(s), beta-glucosidase(s), or combinations thereof. The two basic approaches for measuring cellulolytic enzyme activity include: (1) measuring the total cellulolytic enzyme activity, and (2) measuring the individual cellulolytic enzyme activities (endoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases, and beta-glucosidases) as reviewed in Zhang et al., 2006, Biotechnology Advances 24: 452-481. Total cellulolytic enzyme activity can be measured using insoluble substrates, including Whatman No 1 filter paper, microcrystalline cellulose, bacterial cellulose, algal cellulose, cotton, pretreated lignocellulose, etc. The most common total cellulolytic activity assay is the filter paper assay using Whatman No 1 filter paper as the substrate. The assay was established by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) (Ghose, 1987, Pure Appl. Chem. 59: 257-68).

Cellulolytic enzyme activity can be determined by measuring the increase in production/release of sugars during hydrolysis of a cellulosic material by cellulolytic enzyme(s) under the following conditions: 1-50 mg of cellulolytic enzyme protein/g of cellulose in pretreated corn stover (PCS) (or other pretreated cellulosic material) for 3-7 days at a suitable temperature such as 40° C.-80° C., e.g., 40° C., 45° C., 50° C., 55° C., 60° C., 65° C., 70° C., 75° C., or 80° C., and a suitable pH, such as 4-9, e.g., 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, or 9.0, compared to a control hydrolysis without addition of cellulolytic enzyme protein. Typical conditions are 1 ml reactions, washed or unwashed PCS, 5% insoluble solids (dry weight), 50 mM sodium acetate pH 5, 1 mM MnSO₄, 50° C., 55° C., or 60° C., 72 hours, sugar analysis by AMINEX® HPX-87H column chromatography (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Hercules, Calif., USA).

Cellulosic material: The term “cellulosic material” means any material containing cellulose. Cellulose is a homopolymer of anyhdrocellobiose and thus a linear beta-(1-4)-D-glucan, while hemicelluloses include a variety of compounds, such as xylans, xyloglucans, arabinoxylans, and mannans in complex branched structures with a spectrum of substituents. Although generally polymorphous, cellulose is found in plant tissue primarily as an insoluble crystalline matrix of parallel glucan chains. Hemicelluloses usually hydrogen bond to cellulose, as well as to other hemicelluloses, which help stabilize the cell wall matrix.

Coding sequence: The term “coding sequence” means a polynucleotide, which directly specifies the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide. The boundaries of the coding sequence are generally determined by an open reading frame, which begins with a start codon such as ATG, GTG, or TTG and ends with a stop codon such as TAA, TAG, or TGA. The coding sequence may be a genomic DNA, cDNA, synthetic DNA, or a combination thereof.

Control sequences: The term “control sequences” means nucleic acid sequences necessary for expression of a polynucleotide encoding a mature polypeptide of the present invention. Each control sequence may be native (i.e., from the same gene) or foreign (i.e., from a different gene) to the polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide or native or foreign to each other. Such control sequences include, but are not limited to, a leader, polyadenylation sequence, propeptide sequence, promoter, signal peptide sequence, and transcription terminator. At a minimum, the control sequences include a promoter, and transcriptional and translational stop signals. The control sequences may be provided with linkers for the purpose of introducing specific restriction sites facilitating ligation of the control sequences with the coding region of the polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide.

Crop kernels: The term “crop kernels” includes kernels from, e.g., corn (maize), rice, barley, sorghum bean, fruit hulls, and wheat. Corn kernels are exemplary. A variety of corn kernels are known, including, e.g., dent corn, flint corn, pod corn, striped maize, sweet corn, waxy corn and the like. In an embodiment, the corn kernel is yellow dent corn kernel. Yellow dent corn kernel has an outer covering referred to as the “Pericarp” that protects the germ in the kernels. It resists water and water vapour and is undesirable to insects and microorganisms. The only area of the kernels not covered by the “Pericarp” is the “Tip Cap”, which is the attachment point of the kernel to the cob.

Dry solids: The term “dry solids” is the total solids of a slurry in percent on a dry weight basis.

Endoglucanase: The term “endoglucanase” means a 4-(1,3;1,4)-beta-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase (E.C. 3.2.1.4) that catalyzes endohydrolysis of 1,4-beta-D-glycosidic linkages in cellulose, cellulose derivatives (such as carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose), lichenin, beta-1,4 bonds in mixed beta-1,3-1,4 glucans such as cereal beta-D-glucans or xyloglucans, and other plant material containing cellulosic components. Endoglucanase activity can be determined by measuring reduction in substrate viscosity or increase in reducing ends determined by a reducing sugar assay (Zhang et al., 2006, Biotechnology Advances 24: 452-481). Endoglucanase activity can also be determined using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as substrate according to the procedure of Ghose, 1987, Pure and Appl. Chem. 59: 257-268, at pH 5, 40° C.

Protease: The term “proteolytic enzyme” or “protease” means one or more (e.g., several) enzymes that break down the amide bond of a protein by hydrolysis of the peptide bonds that link amino acids together in a polypeptide chain. A protease may include, e.g., a metalloprotease, a trypsin-like serine protease, a subtilisin-like serine protease, and aspartic protease.

Expression: The term “expression” includes any step involved in the production of a polypeptide including, but not limited to, transcription, post-transcriptional modification, translation, post-translational modification, and secretion.

Expression vector: The term “expression vector” means a linear or circular DNA molecule that comprises a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide and is operably linked to control sequences that provide for its expression.

Fragment: The term “fragment” means a polypeptide having one or more (e.g., several) amino acids absent from the amino and/or carboxyl terminus of a mature polypeptide, wherein the fragment has enzyme activity. In one aspect, a fragment contains at least 85%, e.g., at least 90% or at least 95% of the amino acid residues of the mature polypeptide of an enzyme.

Germ: The “Germ” is the only living part of the corn kernel. It contains the essential genetic information, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals for the kernel to grow into a corn plant. In yellow dent corn, about 25 percent of the germ is corn oil. The endosperm covered or surrounded by the germ comprises about 82 percent of the kernel dry weight and is the source of energy (starch) and protein for the germinating seed. There are two types of endosperm, soft and hard. In the hard endosperm, starch is packed tightly together. In the soft endosperm, the starch is loose.

Grind or grinding: The term “grinding” means any process that breaks the pericarp and opens the crop kernel.

Host cell: The term “host cell” means any cell type that is susceptible to transformation, transfection, transduction, or the like with a nucleic acid construct or expression vector comprising a polynucleotide of the present invention. The term “host cell” encompasses any progeny of a parent cell that is not identical to the parent cell due to mutations that occur during replication.

Isolated: The term “isolated” means a substance in a form or environment that does not occur in nature. Non-limiting examples of isolated substances include (1) any non-naturally occurring substance, (2) any substance including, but not limited to, any enzyme, variant, nucleic acid, protein, peptide or cofactor, that is at least partially removed from one or more or all of the naturally occurring constituents with which it is associated in nature; (3) any substance modified by the hand of man relative to that substance found in nature; or (4) any substance modified by increasing the amount of the substance relative to other components with which it is naturally associated (e.g., recombinant production in a host cell; multiple copies of a gene encoding the substance; and use of a stronger promoter than the promoter naturally associated with the gene encoding the substance).

Milled: The term “milled” refers to plant material which has been broken down into smaller particles, e.g., by crushing, fractionating, grinding, pulverizing, etc.

Mature polypeptide: The term “mature polypeptide” means a polypeptide in its final form following translation and any post-translational modifications, such as N-terminal processing, C-terminal truncation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, etc.

In one aspect, the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 consists of amino acids 27 to 332, amino acids 1 to 26 of SEQ ID NO: 1 being a signal peptide.

In one aspect, the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 3 consists of amino acids 27 to 332, amino acids 1 to 26 of SEQ ID NO: 3 being a signal peptide.

In one aspect, the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4 consists of amino acids 20 to 319, amino acids 1 to 19 of SEQ ID NO: 4 being a signal peptide.

In one aspect, the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6 consists of amino acids 27 to 417, amino acids 1 to 26 of SEQ ID NO: 6 being a signal peptide.

Mature polypeptide coding sequence: The term “mature polypeptide coding sequence” means a polynucleotide that encodes a mature polypeptide.

In one aspect, the mature polypeptide coding sequence of a GH62 arabinofuranosidase is nucleotides 79 to 996 of SEQ ID NO: 2 or the cDNA sequence thereof.

In another aspect, the mature polypeptide coding sequence of a GH10 xylanase is nucleotides 58 to 244,301 to 341,401 to 449,511 to 632,685 to 830,884 to 972,1029 to 1052,1129 to 1217,1280 to 1345,1406 to 1492 of SEQ ID NO: 5 or the cDNA sequence thereof.

Nucleic acid construct: The term “nucleic acid construct” means a nucleic acid molecule, either single- or double-stranded, which is isolated from a naturally occurring gene or is modified to contain segments of nucleic acids in a manner that would not otherwise exist in nature or which is synthetic, which comprises one or more control sequences.

Oligosaccharide: The term “oligosaccharide” is a compound having 2 to 10 monosaccharide units.

Operably linked: The term “operably linked” means a configuration in which a control sequence is placed at an appropriate position relative to the coding sequence of a polynucleotide such that the control sequence directs expression of the coding sequence.

Sequence Identity: The relatedness between two amino acid sequences or between two nucleotide sequences is described by the parameter “sequence identity”.

For purposes of the present invention, the degree of sequence identity between two amino acid sequences is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, Trends Genet. 16: 276-277), preferably version 3.0.0 or later. Version 6.1.0 was used. The optional parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EBLOSUM62 (EMBOSS version of BLOSUM62) substitution matrix. The output of Needle labelled “longest identity” (obtained using the −nobrief option) is used as the percent identity and is calculated as follows:

(Identical Residues×100)/(Length of Alignment Total Number of Gaps in Alignment)

For purposes of the present invention, the degree of sequence identity between two deoxyribonucleotide sequences is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, supra) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, supra), preferably version 3.0.0 or later. Version 6.1.0 was used. The optional parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EDNAFULL (EMBOSS version of NCBI NUC4.4) substitution matrix. The output of Needle labelled “longest identity” (obtained using the nobrief option) is used as the percent identity and is calculated as follows:

(Identical Deoxyribonucleotides×100)/(Length of Alignment Total Number of Gaps in Alignment)

Starch: The term “starch” means any material comprised of complex polysaccharides of plants, composed of glucose units that occurs widely in plant tissues in the form of storage granules, consisting of amylose and amylopectin, and represented as (C6H10O5)n, where n is any number.

Steep or steeping: The term “steeping” means soaking the crop kernel with water and optionally SO₂.

Subsequence: The term “subsequence” means a polynucleotide having one or more (e.g., several) nucleotides absent from the 5′ and/or 3′ end of a mature polypeptide coding sequence; wherein the subsequence encodes a fragment having arabinofuranosidase or xylanase activity.

Substantially pure polypeptide: The term “substantially pure polypeptide” means a preparation that contains at most 10%, at most 8%, at most 6%, at most 5%, at most 4%, at most 3%, at most 2%, at most 1%, and at most 0.5% by weight of other polypeptide material with which it is natively or recombinantly associated. Preferably, the polypeptide is at least 92% pure, e.g., at least 94% pure, at least 95% pure, at least 96% pure, at least 97% pure, at least 98% pure, at least 99%, at least 99.5% pure, and 100% pure by weight of the total polypeptide material present in the preparation. The polypeptides of the present invention are preferably in a substantially pure form. This can be accomplished, for example, by preparing the polypeptide by well-known recombinant methods or by classical purification methods.

Variant: The term “variant” means a polypeptide having xylanase or arabinofuranosidase activity comprising an alteration, i.e., a substitution, insertion, and/or deletion of one or more (several) amino acid residues at one or more (several) positions. A substitution means a replacement of an amino acid occupying a position with a different amino acid; a deletion means removal of an amino acid occupying a position; and an insertion means adding 1-3 amino acids adjacent to an amino acid occupying a position.

Wet milling benefit: The term “wet milling benefit” means one or more of improved starch yield and/or purity, improved gluten quality and/or yield, improved fiber, gluten, or steep water filtration, dewatering and evaporation, easier germ separation and/or better post-saccharification filtration, and process energy savings thereof.

Xylan degrading activity or xylanolytic activity: The term “xylan degrading activity” or “xylanolytic activity” means a biological activity that hydrolyzes xylan-containing material. The two basic approaches for measuring xylanolytic activity include: (1) measuring the total xylanolytic activity, and (2) measuring the individual xylanolytic activities (e.g., endoxylanases, beta-xylosidases, arabinofuranosidases, alpha-glucuronidases, acetylxylan esterases, feruloyl esterases, and alpha-glucuronyl esterases). Recent progress in assays of xylanolytic enzymes was summarized in several publications including Biely and Puchard, 2006, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 86(11): 1636-1647; Spanikova and Biely, 2006, FEBS Letters 580(19): 4597-4601; Herrmann et al., 1997, Biochemical Journal 321: 375-381.

Total xylan degrading activity can be measured by determining the reducing sugars formed from various types of xylan, including, for example, oat spelt, beechwood, and larchwood xylans, or by photometric determination of dyed xylan fragments released from various covalently dyed xylans. A common total xylanolytic activity assay is based on production of reducing sugars from polymeric 4-O-methyl glucuronoxylan as described in Bailey et al., 1992, Interlaboratory testing of methods for assay of xylanase activity, Journal of Biotechnology 23(3): 257-270. Xylanase activity can also be determined with 0.2% AZCL-arabinoxylan as substrate in 0.01% TRITON® X-100 and 200 mM sodium phosphate pH 6 at 37° C. One unit of xylanase activity is defined as 1.0 μmole of azurine produced per minute at 37° C., pH 6 from 0.2% AZCL-arabinoxylan as substrate in 200 mM sodium phosphate pH 6.

Xylan degrading activity can be determined by measuring the increase in hydrolysis of birchwood xylan (Sigma Chemical Co., Inc., St. Louis, Mo., USA) by xylan-degrading enzyme(s) under the following typical conditions: 1 ml reactions, 5 mg/ml substrate (total solids), 5 mg of xylanolytic protein/g of substrate, 50 mM sodium acetate pH 5, 50° C., 24 hours, sugar analysis using p-hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide (PHBAH) assay as described by Lever, 1972, Anal. Biochem. 47: 273-279.

Crude oil: The term “crude oil” (also called a non-degummed oil) refers to a pressed or extracted oil or a mixture thereof. In the present context, it is to be understood that the oil is palm oil, in particular un-refined palm oil. In particular, the term “crude oil” refers to the effluent from the screw press of a palm oil mill; i.e. to the mixture of oil and water pressed out of the palm fruit mash, before it has been subject to clarification and separation of oil from water. The crude palm oil is also designated CPO. Crude palm oil comprises water.

Digestion: The term “digestion” refers to a process where the substrate comprising palm oil is kept at a temperature in the range of 65-85° C. for disintegrating the substrate and releasing palm oil from the mesocarp. The digestion can be carried out in a digestion tank and/or a precooker tank equipped with baffles. During the digestion, the substrate comprising palm oil e.g. the palm fruitlets are disintegrated and oil released from the mesocarp. According to the invention the substrate comprising palm oil can be contacted with the enzyme composition before or during the digestion.

Oil extraction rate (OER): “Oil extraction rate (OER)” may be defined as by Chang et al., oil palm Industry economic journal, volume 3, 2003[9]. Chang et al. defines the Oil extract rate as ratio of oil recovered and Fresh fruit branch (FFB) times 100, the mathematical formula is:

OER=(weight of oil recovered/weight of FFB processed)×100

Palm oil mill effluent (POME): Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is the waste water discharged e.g. from the sterilization process, crude oil clarification process.

Palm press liquid: The term “palm press liquid” refers to the liquid discharged from the pressing of the substrate comprising palm oil. Palm press liquid is not a crude palm oil and water has not been separated from the palm press liquid.

Nomenclature

For purposes of the present invention, the nomenclature [Y/F] means that the amino acid at this position may be a tyrosine (Try, Y) or a phenylalanine (Phe, F). Likewise the nomenclature [V/G/A/I] means that the amino acid at this position may be a valine (Val, V), glycine (Gly, G), alanine (Ala, A) or isoleucine (Ile, I), and so forth for other combinations as described herein. Unless otherwise limited further, the amino acid X is defined such that it may be any of the 20 natural amino acids.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Milling Process

It is an object of the invention to provide improved processes of treating crop kernels to provide starch of high quality.

In one embodiment, the enzyme compositions useful in the processes of the invention provide benefits including, improving starch yield and/or purity, improving gluten quality and/or yield, improving fiber, gluten, or steep water filtration, dewatering and evaporation, easier germ separation and/or better post-saccharification filtration, and process energy savings thereof.

Moreover, the present inventors have surprisingly found that the enzymes useful according to the invention provide reduction in fiber mass and lower protein content of the fiber due to better separation of both starch and protein fractions from the fiber fraction. Separating starch and gluten from fiber is valuable to the industry because fiber is the least valuable product of the wet milling process, and higher purity starch and protein is desirable.

Surprisingly, the present inventors have discovered that replacing some of the protease activity in an enzyme composition can provide an improvement over an otherwise similar composition containing predominantly protease activity alone. This can provide a benefit to the industry, e.g., on the basis of cost and ease of use.

The kernels are milled in order to open up the structure and to allow further processing and to separate the kernels into the four main constituents: starch, germ, fiber and protein.

In one embodiment, a wet milling process is used. Wet milling gives a very good separation of germ and meal (starch granules and protein) and is often applied at locations where there is a parallel production of syrups.

The inventors of the present invention have surprisingly found that the quality of the starch final product may be improved by treating crop kernels in the processes as described herein.

The processes of the invention result in comparison to traditional processes in a higher starch quality, in that the final starch product is more pure and/or a higher yield is obtained and/or less process time is used. Another advantage may be that the amount of chemicals, such as SO2 and NaHSO3, which need to be used, may be reduced or even fully removed.

Wet Milling

Starch is formed within plant cells as tiny granules insoluble in water. When put in cold water, the starch granules may absorb a small amount of the liquid and swell. At temperatures up to about 50° C. to 75° C. the swelling may be reversible. However, with higher temperatures an irreversible swelling called “gelatinization” begins. Granular starch to be processed according to the present invention may be a crude starch-containing material comprising (e.g., milled) whole grains including non-starch fractions such as germ residues and fibers. The raw material, such as whole grains, may be reduced in particle size, e.g., by wet milling, in order to open up the structure and allowing for further processing. Wet milling gives a good separation of germ and meal (starch granules and protein) and is often applied at locations where the starch hydrolyzate is used in the production of, e.g., syrups.

In an embodiment, the particle size is reduced to between 0.05-3.0 mm, preferably 0.1-0.5 mm, or so that at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, even more preferably at least 90% of the starch-containing material fits through a sieve with a 0.05-3.0 mm screen, preferably 0.1-0.5 mm screen.

More particularly, degradation of the kernels of corn and other crop kernels into starch suitable for conversion of starch into mono- and oligo-saccharides, ethanol, sweeteners, etc. consists essentially of four steps:

1. Steeping and germ separation,

2. Fiber washing and drying,

3. Starch gluten separation, and

4. Starch washing.

1. Steeping and Germ Separation

Corn kernels are softened by soaking in water for between about 30 minutes to about 48 hours, preferably 30 minutes to about 15 hours, such as about 1 hour to about 6 hours at a temperature of about 50° C., such as between about 45° C. to 60° C. During steeping, the kernels absorb water, increasing their moisture levels from 15 percent to 45 percent and more than doubling in size. The optional addition of e.g. 0.1 percent sulfur dioxide (SO2) and/or NaHSO3 to the water prevents excessive bacteria growth in the warm environment. As the corn swells and softens, the mild acidity of the steepwater begins to loosen the gluten bonds within the corn and release the starch. After the corn kernels are steeped they are cracked open to release the germ. The germ contains the valuable corn oil. The germ is separated from the heavier density mixture of starch, hulls and fiber essentially by “floating” the germ segment free of the other substances under closely controlled conditions. This method serves to eliminate any adverse effect of traces of corn oil in later processing steps.

In an embodiment of the invention the kernels are soaked in water for 2-10 hours, preferably about 3-5 hours at a temperature in the range between 40 and 60° C., preferably around 50° C.

In one embodiment, 0.01-1%, preferably 0.05-0.3%, especially 0.1% SO₂ and/or NaHSO₃ may be added during soaking.

2. Fiber Washing and Drying

To get maximum starch recovery, while keeping any fiber in the final product to an absolute minimum, it is necessary to wash the free starch from the fiber during processing. The fiber is collected, slurried and screened to reclaim any residual starch or protein.

3. Starch Gluten Separation

The starch-gluten suspension from the fiber-washing step, called mill starch, is separated into starch and gluten. Gluten has a low density compared to starch. By passing mill starch through a centrifuge, the gluten is readily spun out.

4. Starch Washing

The starch slurry from the starch separation step contains some insoluble protein and much of solubles. They have to be removed before a top quality starch (high purity starch) can be made. The starch, with just one or two percent protein remaining, is diluted, washed 8 to 14 times, re-diluted and washed again in hydroclones to remove the last trace of protein and produce high quality starch, typically more than 99.5% pure.

Products

Wet milling can be used to produce, without limitation, corn steep liquor, corn gluten feed, germ, corn oil, corn gluten meal, corn starch, modified corn starch, syrups such as corn syrup, and corn ethanol.

Palm Oil Extraction

The present invention also provides a process for enzyme assisted extraction of crude palm oil from a substrate comprising palm oil. The substrate comprising palm oil can be selected from the group consisting of palm fruitlets, pressed palm fruit liquid, mashed or partly mashed palm fruitlets. The inventors have found that by using a GH10 xylanase on the substrate comprising palm oil, the oil extraction rate (OER) can be increased.

The invention concerns a process for extraction or separation of crude palm oil (CPO), comprising the steps of:

i) contacting a substrate comprising palm oil with an enzyme composition,

ii) extracting or separating the crude palm oil (CPO)

wherein the enzyme composition comprises a GH10 xylanase and a GH62 arabinofuranosidase.

In one embodiment of the invention, the substrate comprising palm oil is palm fruitlets, which comprise oil in the mesocarp of the fruit. The palm fruitlets are contacted with the enzyme composition. In one embodiment, the substrate is palm fruitlets, which are mashed or partly mashed and contacted with the enzyme composition. This increases availability of mesocarp cells and thereby enhances enzyme activity on the mesocarp cells. In one embodiment, the substrate comprising palm oil is crude palm oil which is contacted with the enzyme composition. In the various aspects and embodiments of the invention the substrate, which comprises palm oil may be a substrate which also comprises fiber, in particular fiber from the mescocarp of palm fruitlets.

In one embodiment of the invention the substrate comprising palm oil is sterilized before being contacted with the enzyme composition. Palm fruits grow in large bunches and needs to be stripped from the bunch stalks before being contacted with the enzyme composition. Steam sterilization of the fresh fruit bunches facilitates fruits being stripped from bunches to give the palm fruitlet. The sterilization step has several advantages one being that it softens the fruit mesocarp for subsequent digestion. A further advantage is that the quality of the final palm oil product is better if the palm fruits are stripped from the bunch stalks.

The sterilization can be a batch sterilization or a continuous sterilization. The sterilization process can be carried out at a temperature of 100° C.-150° C. In one embodiment of the invention, the pressure is reduced during the sterilization procedure.

After the sterilization, the palm fruitlets are stripped from the bunch stalks. Stripping or threshing can be carried out in a mechanized system having a rotating drum or fixed drum equipped with rotary beater bars which detach the fruit from the bunch and leaves the spikelets on the stem. The stripped palm fruitlets can be contacted with the enzyme composition according to the invention.

In one embodiment of the invention, the substrate comprising palm oil is subjected to digestion before extracting the crude palm oil. The stripped palm fruitlets can be transported into a digester by one or more transportation means, e.g. a conveyor belt. In the digester, the fruitlets are further heated in order to loosen the pericarp. The digester is typically a steam heated vessel, which has rotating shafts to which stirring arms are attached or is equipped with baffles. The fruitlets are rotated, causing the loosening of the pericarps from the nuts and degradation of the mesocarp. The digester is a continuous process where the digester is kept full and as the digested fruit is drawn out, freshly stripped fruits are brought in.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first part of the digestion is carried out in a precooker. The substrate may be held at a temperature within the range of 65-85° C. for some time and then transferred to the digester tank.

Polypeptides Having GH62 Arabinofuranosidase Activity

Preferred embodiments of the aspect of the invention relating to the GH62 polypeptide having arabinofuranosidase activity are disclosed herein below.

In an embodiment, the polypeptide having GH62 arabinofuranosidase activity of the present invention, is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 85%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1;

(b) a variant of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more (several) positions;

(c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 85%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or the cDNA sequence thereof.

In an embodiment, the polypeptide having GH62 arabinofuranosidase activity of the present invention, is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 85%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 3;

(b) a variant of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 3 comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more (several) positions.

In one aspect, the polypeptide differs by up to 10 amino acids, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, from the mature polypeptide. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to variants of the mature polypeptide comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more (e.g., several) positions. In an embodiment, the number of amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or insertions introduced into the mature polypeptide is up to 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10. The amino acid changes may be of a minor nature, that is conservative amino acid substitutions or insertions that do not significantly affect the folding and/or activity of the protein; small deletions, typically of 1-30 amino acids; small amino- or carboxyl-terminal extensions, such as an amino-terminal methionine residue; a small linker peptide of up to 20-25 residues; or a small extension that facilitates purification by changing net charge or another function.

A polypeptide having arabinofuranosidase activity may be obtained from microorganisms of any genus. For purposes of the present invention, the term “obtained from” as used herein in connection with a given source shall mean that the polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide is produced by the source or by a strain in which the polynucleotide from the source has been inserted. In one aspect, the polypeptide obtained from a given source is secreted extracellularly.

The polypeptide may be a fungal polypeptide. In one embodiment, the polypeptide is from a fungus of the order Eurotiales, or from the family Aspergillaceae, or from the genus Aspergillus or from the species Aspergillus clavatus or Aspergillus wentii or Aspergillus niger.

In one embodiment, the GH62 arabinofuranosidase is derived from a strain of the genus Aspergillus, such as a strain of Aspergillus niger.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide is from a fungus of the order Eurotiales, or from the family Aspergillaceae, or from the genus Neosartorya or from the species Neosartorya fischeri.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide is from a fungus of the order Eurotiales, or from the family Trichocomaceae, or from the genus Talaromyces or from the species Talaromyces pinophilus.

The polypeptide may be a bacterial polypeptide. In one embodiment, the polypeptide is from a bacterium of the order Actinomycetales, or from the family Streptomycetaceae, or from the genus Streptomyces or from the species Streptomyces nitrosporeus or Streptomyces beijiangensis.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide is from a bacterium of the order Actinomycetales, or from the family Streptosporangiaceae, or from the genus Streptosporangium or from the species Streptosporangium sp-60756.

It will be understood that for the aforementioned species, the invention encompasses both the perfect and imperfect states, and other taxonomic equivalents, e.g., anamorphs, regardless of the species name by which they are known. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize the identity of appropriate equivalents.

Strains of these species are readily accessible to the public in a number of culture collections, such as the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ), Centraalbureau Voor Schimmelcultures (CBS), and Agricultural Research Service Patent Culture Collection, Northern Regional Research Center (NRRL).

The polypeptide may be identified and obtained from other sources including microorganisms isolated from nature (e.g., soil, composts, water, etc.) or DNA samples obtained directly from natural materials (e.g., soil, composts, water, etc.) using the above-mentioned probes. Techniques for isolating microorganisms and DNA directly from natural habitats are well known in the art. A polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide may then be obtained by similarly screening a genomic DNA or cDNA library of another microorganism or mixed DNA sample. Once a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide has been detected with the probe(s), the polynucleotide can be isolated or cloned by utilizing techniques that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989, supra).

Polypeptides Having GH10 Xylanase Activity

Exemplary embodiments relating to the GH10 polypeptide having xylanase activity are disclosed herein below.

In an embodiment, the polypeptide having GH10 xylanase activity, selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 85%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4;

(b) a variant of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4 comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more (several) positions;

(c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 85%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or the cDNA sequence thereof.

In one aspect, the polypeptide differs by up to 10 amino acids, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, from the mature polypeptide. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to variants of the mature polypeptide comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more (e.g., several) positions. In an embodiment, the number of amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or insertions introduced into the mature polypeptide is up to 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10. The amino acid changes may be of a minor nature, that is conservative amino acid substitutions or insertions that do not significantly affect the folding and/or activity of the protein; small deletions, typically of 1-30 amino acids; small amino- or carboxyl-terminal extensions, such as an amino-terminal methionine residue; a small linker peptide of up to 20-25 residues; or a small extension that facilitates purification by changing net charge or another function.

A polypeptide having xylanase activity of the present invention (GH10 xylanase) may be obtained from microorganisms of any genus. For purposes of the present invention, the term “obtained from” as used herein in connection with a given source shall mean that the polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide is produced by the source or by a strain in which the polynucleotide from the source has been inserted. In one aspect, the polypeptide obtained from a given source is secreted extracellularly.

The polypeptide may be a Talaromyces polypeptide.

In another embodiment, the polypeptide is a Talaromyces leycettanus polypeptide, e.g., a polypeptide obtained from Talaromyces leycettanus Strain CBS398.68.

The polypeptide may be an Aspergillus polypeptide. In another embodiment, the polypeptide is an Aspergillus niger polypeptide,

In one embodiment, the GH10 xylanase is derived from a strain of the genus Aspergillus, such as a strain of Aspergillus niger.

It will be understood that for the aforementioned species, the invention encompasses both the perfect and imperfect states, and other taxonomic equivalents, e.g., anamorphs, regardless of the species name by which they are known. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize the identity of appropriate equivalents.

Strains of these species are readily accessible to the public in a number of culture collections, such as the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ), Centraalbureau Voor Schimmelcultures (CBS), and Agricultural Research Service Patent Culture Collection, Northern Regional Research Center (NRRL).

The polypeptide may be identified and obtained from other sources including microorganisms isolated from nature (e.g., soil, composts, water, etc.) or DNA samples obtained directly from natural materials (e.g., soil, composts, water, etc.) using the above-mentioned probes. Techniques for isolating microorganisms and DNA directly from natural habitats are well known in the art. A polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide may then be obtained by similarly screening a genomic DNA or cDNA library of another microorganism or mixed DNA sample. Once a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide has been detected with the probe(s), the polynucleotide can be isolated or cloned by utilizing techniques that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989, supra).

Polypeptides Having GH30 Xylanase Activity

GH30 polypeptide refers to a polypeptide with enzyme activity, the polypeptide being classified as member of the Glycoside hydrolase family 30 in the database of Carbohydrate-Active enZYmes (CAZymes) (http://www.cazy.org/).

In one embodiment, the polypeptide having GH30 xylanase activity is selected from the group wherein the polypeptide having GH30 xylanase activity is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 85%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6;

(b) a variant of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6 comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more (several) positions.

In one aspect, the polypeptide differs by up to 10 amino acids, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, from the mature polypeptide. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to variants of the mature polypeptide comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more (e.g., several) positions. In an embodiment, the number of amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or insertions introduced into the mature polypeptide is up to 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10. The amino acid changes may be of a minor nature, that is conservative amino acid substitutions or insertions that do not significantly affect the folding and/or activity of the protein; small deletions, typically of 1-30 amino acids; small amino- or carboxyl-terminal extensions, such as an amino-terminal methionine residue; a small linker peptide of up to 20-25 residues; or a small extension that facilitates purification by changing net charge or another function.

A polypeptide having xylanase activity of the present invention (GH30 xylanase) may be obtained from microorganisms of any genus. For purposes of the present invention, the term “obtained from” as used herein in connection with a given source shall mean that the polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide is produced by the source or by a strain in which the polynucleotide from the source has been inserted. In one aspect, the polypeptide obtained from a given source is secreted extracellularly.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide having GH30 xylanase activity is derived from a strain of the genus Bacillus, such as a strain of Bacillus subtilis.

The polypeptide may be a bacterial polypeptide. In one embodiment, the polypeptide may be a Bacillus polypeptide. In another embodiment, the polypeptide is a Bacillus subtilis polypeptide.

It will be understood that for the aforementioned species, the invention encompasses both the perfect and imperfect states, and other taxonomic equivalents, e.g., anamorphs, regardless of the species name by which they are known. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize the identity of appropriate equivalents.

Strains of these species are readily accessible to the public in a number of culture collections, such as the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ), Centraalbureau Voor Schimmelcultures (CBS), and Agricultural Research Service Patent Culture Collection, Northern Regional Research Center (NRRL).

The polypeptide may be identified and obtained from other sources including microorganisms isolated from nature (e.g., soil, composts, water, etc.) or DNA samples obtained directly from natural materials (e.g., soil, composts, water, etc.) using the above-mentioned probes. Techniques for isolating microorganisms and DNA directly from natural habitats are well known in the art. A polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide may then be obtained by similarly screening a genomic DNA or cDNA library of another microorganism or mixed DNA sample. Once a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide has been detected with the probe(s), the polynucleotide can be isolated or cloned by utilizing techniques that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989, supra).

Cellulolytic Composition

Exemplary cellulolytic compositions are as described in e.g., WO 2015/081139 and PCT/US2015/034179.

In an embodiment, the cellulolytic composition is derived from a strain of Trichoderma, such as a strain of Trichoderma reesei; a strain of Humicola, such as a strain of Humicola insolens, and/or a strain of Chrysosporium, such as a strain of Chrysosporium lucknowense.

In a preferred embodiment, the cellulolytic composition is derived from a strain of Trichoderma reesei.

In a preferred embodiment, the cellulolytic composition is a Trichoderma reesei cellulase preparation.

In an embodiment, the cellulolytic composition comprises a Trichoderma reesei cellulase preparation containing Aspergillus oryzae beta-glucosidase fusion protein (WO 2008/057637) and Thermoascus aurantiacus GH61A polypeptide (WO 2005/074656).

In an embodiment, the cellulolytic composition comprises a Trichoderma reesei cellulolytic enzyme composition, further comprising Thermoascus aurantiacus GH61A polypeptide having cellulolytic enhancing activity (WO 2005/074656) and Aspergillus oryzae beta-glucosidase fusion protein (WO 2008/057637).

In another embodiment, the cellulolytic composition comprises a Trichoderma reesei cellulolytic enzyme composition, further comprising Thermoascus aurantiacus GH61A polypeptide having cellulolytic enhancing activity (Sequence Number 2 in WO 2005/074656) and Aspergillus fumigatus beta-glucosidase (Sequence Number 2 of WO 2005/047499).

In another embodiment, the cellulolytic composition comprises a Trichoderma reesei cellulolytic enzyme composition, further comprising Penicillium emersonii GH61A polypeptide having cellulolytic enhancing activity disclosed in WO 2011/041397, Aspergillus fumigatus beta-glucosidase (Sequence Number 2 of WO 2005/047499) or a variant thereof with the following substitutions: F100D, S283G, N456E, F512Y.

In an embodiment, the cellulolytic composition is derived from Trichoderma reesei RutC30.

In an embodiment, the cellulolytic composition comprises a Trichoderma reesei cellulase preparation containing Trichophaea saccata GH10 xylanase (WO 2011/057083) and Talaromyces emersonii beta-xylosidase.

Enzyme Composition

The present invention also provides an enzyme composition comprising of a GH62 arabinofuranosidase, a GH10 xylanase, and/or a GH30 xylanase.

In an embodiment, the enzyme composition of the present invention further comprises one or more hydrolytic enzymes, preferably one or more cellulolytic enzyme, preferably, the one or more cellulolytic enzymes is expressed in an organism, such as Trichoderma reesei.

In an embodiment, the enzyme composition of the present invention further comprises a cellulolytic composition.

Preferably, the compositions are enriched in the polypeptides useful according to the invention. The term “enriched” indicates that the enzymatic activity of the composition has been increased, e.g., with an enrichment factor of at least 1.1, such as at least 1.2, at least 1.3, at least 1.4, at least 1.5, at least 2.0, at least 3.0, at least 4.0, at least 5.0, at least 10. In an embodiment, the composition comprises the polypeptides of the first aspect of the invention and one or more formulating agents, as described in the ‘formulating agent’ section below.

The compositions may comprise a polypeptide of the present invention as the major enzymatic component, e.g., a mono-component composition. Such a composition may further comprise a formulating agent, as described in the ‘formulating agent’ section below. Alternatively, the compositions may comprise multiple enzymatic activities, such as one or more (e.g., several) enzymes selected from the group consisting of phytase, xylanase, galactanase, alpha-galactosidase, protease, phospholipase, glucoronidase, lysophospholipase, amylase, beta-glucanase, arabinofuranosidase, beta-xylosidase, endo-1,4-beta-xylanase acetyl xylan esterase, feruloyl esterase, cellulase, cellobiohydrolase, beta-glycosidase, pullulanase, or any mixture thereof. Additional cellulolytic activities are particularly contemplated, as further outlined below.

Where arabinofuranosidase and xylanase activity are contemplated, it is at present contemplated that the xylanase is used in one or more of the following amounts (dosage ranges): 0.01-200; 0.05-100; 0.1-50; 0.2-20; 0.1-1; 0.2-2; 0.5-5; or 1-10 wherein all these ranges are mg xylanase protein per kg substrate (ppm). It is at present contemplated that the arabinofuranosidase is administered in one or more of the following amounts (dosage ranges): 0.01-200; 0.05-100; 0.1-50; 0.2-20; 0.1-1; 0.2-2; 0.5-5; or 1-10 wherein all these ranges are mg arabinofuranosidase protein per kg substrate (ppm). It is further contemplated that the ratio of the GH10 xylanase to GH62 arabinofuranosidase is in the range of 100:1 to 1:100 xylanase:arabinofuranosidase such as the ranges 50:1 to 1:50, 50:1 to 1:10, 25:1 to 1:5, 10:1 to 1:2 or such as 10:1 to 1:50, 5:1 to 1:25, 2:1 to 1:10 xylanase:arabinofuranosidase.

Formulating Agent

The enzyme of the invention may be formulated as a liquid or a solid. For a liquid formulation, the formulating agent may comprise a polyol (such as e.g. glycerol, ethylene glycol or propylene glycol), a salt (such as e.g. sodium chloride, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate) or a sugar or sugar derivative (such as e.g. dextrin, glucose, sucrose, and sorbitol). Thus in one embodiment, the composition is a liquid composition comprising the polypeptide of the invention and one or more formulating agents selected from the list consisting of glycerol, ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, sodium chloride, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, dextrin, glucose, sucrose, and sorbitol.

For a solid formulation, the formulation may be for example as a granule, spray dried powder or agglomerate. The formulating agent may comprise a salt (organic or inorganic zinc, sodium, potassium or calcium salts such as e.g. such as calcium acetate, calcium benzoate, calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, calcium citrate, calcium sorbate, calcium sulfate, potassium acetate, potassium benzoate, potassium carbonate, potassium chloride, potassium citrate, potassium sorbate, potassium sulfate, sodium acetate, sodium benzoate, sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, sodium sulfate, zinc acetate, zinc benzoate, zinc carbonate, zinc chloride, zinc citrate, zinc sorbate, zinc sulfate), starch or a sugar or sugar derivative (such as e.g. sucrose, dextrin, glucose, lactose, sorbitol).

In an embodiment, the solid composition is in granulated form. The granule may have a matrix structure where the components are mixed homogeneously. However, the granule typically comprises a core particle and one or more coatings, which typically are salt and/or wax coatings. The core particle can either be a homogeneous blend of xylanase of the invention optionally combined with one or more additional enzymes and optionally together with one or more salts or an inert particle with the xylanase of the invention optionally combined with one or more additional enzymes applied onto it.

In an embodiment, the material of the core particles are selected from the group consisting of inorganic salts (such as calcium acetate, calcium benzoate, calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, calcium citrate, calcium sorbate, calcium sulfate, potassium acetate, potassium benzoate, potassium carbonate, potassium chloride, potassium citrate, potassium sorbate, potassium sulfate, sodium acetate, sodium benzoate, sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, sodium sulfate, zinc acetate, zinc benzoate, zinc carbonate, zinc chloride, zinc citrate, zinc sorbate, zinc sulfate), starch or a sugar or sugar derivative (such as e.g. sucrose, dextrin, glucose, lactose, sorbitol), sugar or sugar derivative (such as e.g. sucrose, dextrin, glucose, lactose, sorbitol), small organic molecules, starch, flour, cellulose and minerals.

The salt coating is typically at least 1 μm thick and can either be one particular salt or a mixture of salts, such as Na₂SO₄, K₂SO₄, MgSO₄ and/or sodium citrate. Other examples are those described in e.g. WO 2008/017659, WO 2006/034710, WO 1997/05245, WO 1998/54980, WO 1998/55599, WO 2000/70034 or polymer coating such as described in WO 2001/00042.

Enzymatic Amount

Enzymes may be added in an effective amount during wet milling process, which can be adjusted according to the practitioner and particular process needs. In general, enzyme may be present in an amount of 0.0001-1 mg enzyme protein per g dry solids (DS) kernels, such as 0.001-0.1 mg enzyme protein per g DS kernels. In particular embodiments, the enzyme may be present in an amount of, e.g., 1 μg, 2.5 μg, 5 μg, 10 μg, 20 μg, 25 μg, 30 μg, 35 μg, 40 μg, 45 μg, 50 μg, 75 μg, 100 μg, 125 μg, 150 μg, 175 μg, 200 μg, 225 μg, 250 μg, 275 μg, 300 μg, 325 μg, 350 μg, 375 μg, 400 μg, 450 μg, 500 μg, 550 μg, 600 μg, 650 μg, 700 μg, 750 μg, 800 μg, 850 μg, 900 μg, 950 μg, 1000 μg enzyme protein per g DS kernels.

In some embodiments of palm oil extraction, the enzyme(s) are dosed at amounts corresponding to 10-1000 ppm, such as 20-1000 ppm, 30-1000 ppm, 40-1000 ppm, 50-1000 ppm, 100-1000 ppm, 200-1000 ppm, 100-500 ppm, such as 200-500 ppm, 250-400 ppm or 350-1000 ppm relative to the amount of substrate comprising palm oil.

The present invention is further described by the following examples that should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES Materials and Methods Enzymes

GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A: GH62 arabinofuranosidase derived from Aspergillus niger (SEQ ID NO: 1).

GH62 Arabinofuranosidase B: GH62 arabinofuranosidase derived from Aspergillus niger (SEQ ID NO: 3).

GH10 Xylanase A: GH10 xylanase derived from Aspergillus niger (SEQ ID NO: 4).

GH30 Xylanase A: GH30 xylanase derived from Bacillus subtilis (SEQ ID NO: 6)

Celluclast 1.5 L: a commercial product comprising cellulase and available at Novozymes A/S.

Example 1: Cloning and Recombinant Expression of a GH62 Arabinofuranosidase from Aspergillus niger

The arabinofuranosidase encoding gene with SEQ ID NO: 2 was PCR amplified from genomic DNA isolated from an Aspergillus niger strain, which was isolated from Ireland, using gene-specific primers that also included a Kozak translation initiation sequence, “CACC”, immediately 5′ of the start codon. The PCR amplified product was cloned into the Aspergillus expression vector pMStr57 (WO 04/032648) that had been digested with the restriction enzymes BamHI and XhoI.

The sequence of the GH62 arabinofuranosidase encoding gene cloned in the expression vector was confirmed, and the expression construct was transformed into the Aspergillus oryzae strain MT3568 by the methods described in Christensen et al., 1988, Biotechnology 6, 1419-1422 and WO 04/032648. Transformants were selected during regeneration from protoplasts based on the ability to utilize acetamide as a nitrogen source conferred by a selectable marker in the expression vector. Production of the recombinant arabinofuranosidase was evaluated by culturing the transformants in 96-well deep-well microtiter plates for 4 days at 30° C. in YPG medium (WO 05/066338) and monitoring arabinofuranosidase expression by SDS-PAGE. The transformant showing the highest level of expression in microtiter plate culture was selected and re-isolated twice under selection.

For larger-scale production of the recombinant arabinofuranosidase, the selected transformant was cultured in 500 ml baffled flasks containing 150 ml of DAP-4C-1 medium (WO 12/103350). The cultures were shaken on a rotary table at 150 RPM at for 4 days. The culture broth was subsequently separated from cellular material by passage through a 0.22 μm filtration unit.

Example 2: Chromatographic Purification of the Recombinant Arabinofuranosidase from Aspergillus niger

pH of the filtered sample was adjusted to around pH 7.5 and 1.8M ammonium sulfate was added. The sample was applied to a 5 ml HiTrap™ Phenyl (HS) column on an Akta Explorer. Prior to loading, the column had been equilibrated in 5 column volumes (CV) of 50 mM HEPES+1.8M AMS (ammonium sulfate) pH 7. In order to remove unbound material, the column was washed with 5 CV of 50 mM HEPES+1.8M AMS pH 7. The target protein was eluted from the column into a 10 ml loop using 50 mM HEPES+20% isopropanol pH 7. From the loop, the sample was loaded onto a desalting column (HiPrep™ 26/10 Desalting), which had been equilibrated with 3CV of 50 mM HEPES+100 mM NaCl pH 7.0. The target protein was eluted with 50 mM HEPES+100 mM NaCl pH 7.0 and relevant fractions were selected and pooled based on the chromatogram. The flow rate was 5 ml/min.

The GH62 arabinofuranosidase coding sequence and the full-length amino acid sequence of the GH62 arabinofuranosidase are shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, respectively. Determination of the N-terminal sequence was: KCSLPSS, which was determined by N-terminal Edman degradation Sequencing.

Example 3: Genomic DNA Extraction from Aspergillus niger NN053297

The Aspergillus niger strain NN053297 was isolated from hot spring soil samples collected from Yunnan province in 2010.

Aspergillus niger strain NN053297 was inoculated on PDA plate and incubated for 37 C for 4 days. Mycelia were collected and frozen in liquid nitrogen in a sterilized mortar and grounded with pestle to fine powders. Then the genomic DNA was extracted with Biospin Fungus Genomic DNA Extraction Kit (Bioer Technology Co. Ltd., Hangzhou, China) following the manufacturer's instruction.

Example 4: Cloning of Aspergillus niger GH10 Xylanase Gene into an Aspergillus oryzae Expression Vector

Based on the DNA information from public database, oligonucleotide primers, shown below, were designed to amplify the coding sequence of the Aspergillus niger GH10 xylanase. The GH10 xylanase coding sequence and the full-length amino acid sequence are shown as SEQ ID NO: 5 & SEQ ID NO: 4. The primers were synthesized by Invitrogen, Beijing, China.

primer1 ACACAACTGGGGATCCACCatggttcagatcaaggtagct gcac primer2 CCCTCTAGATCTCGAGctagagagcatttgcgatagcagt gta

Lowercase characters of primer1 and primer2 represent the coding region the gene. While bold characters represent a region homologous to insertion sites of Aspergillus oryzae expression vector pCaHj505 as described in WO2013029496. The 4 underlined letters in primer1 represent the Kozark sequence as the initiation of translation process.

The genomic DNA was prepared in Example 1. A Phusion™ High-Fidelity DNA Polymerase (Finnzymes Oy, Espoo, Finland) was used for the PCR amplification. An In-fusion CF Dry-down PCR Cloning Kit (BD Biosciences, Palo Alto, Calif., USA) was used to clone the fragment into the expression vector pCaHj505. The expression vector pCaHj505 contained the TAKA-amylase promoter derived from Aspergillus oryzae and the Aspergillus niger glucoamylase terminator elements. Furthermore pCaHj505 had pUC19 derived sequences for selection and propagation in E. coli, and an amdS gene, which encoded an acetoamidase gene derived from Aspergillus nidulans for selection of an amds+Aspergillus transformant. Plasmid pCaHj505 was linearized by digestion with Bam I and Xho I, isolated by 1.0% agarose gel electrophoresis using TBE buffer, and purified using an illustra GFX PCR DNA and Gel Band Purification Kit (GE Healthcare, Buckinghamshire, UK) following the manufacturer's instructions.

For the gene amplification, the PCR reaction was performed which contained the primer pair, primer 1 & 2, and the genomic DNA of Aspergillu niger NN053297 as the template. In brief, 20 picomoles of each of the primer pair were used in a PCR reaction composed of 2 μl of genomic DNA, 10 μl of 5× Phusion® GC Buffer (Finnzymes Oy, Espoo, Finland), 1 μl of 2.5 mM each of dATP, dTTP, dGTP, and dCTP, and 0.6 unit of PHUSION™ High-Fidelity DNA Polymerase (Finnzymes Oy, Espoo, Finland) in a final volume of 50 μl with deionized water. The amplification was performed using a Peltier Thermal Cycler (MJ Research Inc., South San Francisco, Calif., USA) programmed for denaturing at 98° C. for 1 minute; 10 cycles each of denaturing at 98° C. for 15 seconds, annealing at 68° C. for 30 seconds, with a 1° C. decrease per cycle and elongation at 72° C. for 3 minutes; 25 cycles each at 98° C. for 15 seconds, 58° C. for 30 seconds, and 72° C. for 3 minutes; and a final extension at 72° C. for 7 minutes. The heat block then went to a 4° C. soak cycle.

The PCR product, ˜1.5 kb, was purified from solution by using an ILLUSTRA™ GFX™ PCR DNA and Gel Band Purification Kit.

The purified PCR product was then ligated to the linearized vector pCaHj505 by using In-Fusion™ Dry-down PCR Cloning Kit, resulting in p505-GH10_AnNz, in which the transcription of the of Aspergillus niger GH10 xylanase gene was under the control of a promoter from the gene for Aspergillus oryzae alpha-amylase. Briefly, for the ligation reaction, the pellet of In-Fusion Dry Down mix was suspended in 2 μl of double distilled H2O and 1 μl was taken to add to 0.3 μl of the linearized vector pCaHj505 and 3.7 μl PCR product in the tube. The ligation reaction was incubated at 50° C. for 15 min.

All 5 μl of the ligation solution were used for transformation of E. coli TOP10 competent cell (TIANGEN Biotech (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Beijing, China). The ligation solution was added to 50 μl of frozen-thaw competent cells and kept on ice for 30 minutes. Then the cells were heat-shocked at 42° C. for 1 min, and placed on ice for 2 min. Next, 200 μl of LB medium were added to the cells and incubated at 37° C. for 60 min shaking at 350 rpm in a thermomixer. Finally, all the cells were spread on LB plate containing 100 ug/ml of ampicillin and incubated at 37° C. overnight.

2 colonies were picked up for sequencing using 3730XL DNA Analyzers (Applied Biosystems Inc, Foster City, Calif., USA). After the sequences were confirmed, the colony with correct insertion was inoculated for plasmid DNA extraction with a QIAPREP® Spin Miniprep Kit (QIAGEN GmbH, Hilden, Germany) by following the manufacturer's instruction. Thus the plasmid DNA of p505-GH10_AnNz was prepared for A. oryzae transformations in Example 5.

Example 5: Expression of the Aspergillus niger GH10 Xylanase Gene in Aspergillus oryzae MT3568

Aspergillus oryzae MT3568 protoplasts were prepared according to the method of Christensen et al., 1988, Bio/Technology 6: 1419-1422. For the transformations, 3 μg of plasmid DNA of p505-GH10_AnNz were used to transform Aspergillus oryzae MT3568. The transformation yielded several transformants. Four transformants were isolated and inoculated into 3 ml of Dap4C medium in 24-well plate and incubated at 30° C., 150 rpm. After 3 days incubation, 20 μl of supernatant from each culture were analyzed on NuPAGE Novex 4-12% Bis-Tris Gel w/MES (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif., USA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The resulting gel was stained with Instant Blue (Expedeon Ltd., Babraham Cambridge, UK). SDS-PAGE profiles of the cultures showed that all 4 transformants had a protein band at 35 kDa. The transformant with the highest expression level of each gene was designated as O34EQ8.

Example 6: Preparation of an Aspergillus niger GH10 Xylanase

2 slants of the expression strain 034EQ8 used for inoculation of 12 flasks of 2-liter each containing 400 ml of Dap4C medium. In detail, each slant was washed with 10 ml of Dap4C medium and inoculated into 6 flasks, shaking at 30 C, 80 rpm. The culture was harvested on day 4 and filtered using a 0.22 μm DURAPORE Membrane (Millipore, Bedford, Mass., USA). After purification the Aspergillus niger GH10 xylanase was obtained.

Example 7: Use of Enzyme in Wet Milling Process

The amount of starch and gluten separated from fiber, after incubation with and without enzyme, is measured by 10-g fiber assay. The 10-g fiber assay is generally described that it incubates wet fiber samples obtained from wet-milling plant after fiber pressing and re-suspended in lactic acid buffer to 200-g slurry containing 5% dry solids of fiber, which equals to the fiber content from 100 gram dry substance of corn, in the presence of enzymes, at conditions relevant to the process (pH 3.5 to 4, temperature around 52° C.) and over a time period of between 1 to 4 hr. After incubation the slurry is transferred and pressed over a sieve (typically 100 micron or smaller), while collecting the filtrate passing through. The fiber that retained over the sieve is pressed using a spatula to recover as much filtrate as possible. The pressed fiber is then transferred to a beaker containing 200-ml of water and stirred. The slurry is passed through the 75-micron sieve and the collected filtrate is combined with the first. The pressing, washing and filtering steps above is repeated once more, so that a final filtrate is recovered and combined with the first two. The combined filtrate is then vacuum filtered, this time through a glass micro filter paper (Whatman) which retains the insoluble solids that are released from the fiber and passed through the 75-micron screen. After passing 200 ml water over the filter paper to remove any trace of solubles, the total insoluble solids retained on the filter paper is dried and weighed. The dry weight is reported as Starch+Gluten released as percentage (w/w) of fiber dry matter of starting substrate.

Example 8: Use of GH10 Xylanase and/or GH62 Arabinofuranosidase

10-g fiber assay is performed at pH 3.8, incubating at 52° C. for 1 hour at dose of 35 ug enzyme protein per gram corn, using a blend including Celluclast and GH10 Xylanase A, in combination with either GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A or GH62 Arabinofuranosidase B. Blend consists of 5% GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A or GH62 Arabinofuranosidase B, 15% of GH10 Xylanase A, and the remaining 80% from Celluclast. For comparison, blend containing Celluclast and GH10 Xylanase A only (no GH62 Arabinofuranosidase) was included. The corn fiber with 13.63% residual starch and 10.44% residual protein was used as substrate in the fiber assay. Release of starch+gluten (dry substance) from corn fiber at the specified doses below was measured.

TABLE 1 Dose (ug enzyme Starch + Gluten Treatments protein/g corn) Recovered No Enzyme 0  6.55% Celluclast + GH10 Xylanase A 35  8.90% Celluclast + GH10 Xylanase A + 35 10.57% GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A Celluclast + GH10 Xylanase A + 35 10.73% GH62 Arabinofuranosidase B

As shown in table 1 the addition of GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A and GH62 Arabinofuranosidase B on top of Celluclast+GH10 Xylanase A can significantly increase the yield of starch+gluten in corn wet-milling process.

Example 9: Use of GH10 Xylanase and/or GH62 Arabinofuranosidase

10-g fiber assay is performed at pH 3.8, incubating at 52° C. for 1 hour at dose of 30 ug enzyme protein per gram corn, using a blend including Celluclast and GH10 Xylanase A, in combination with either GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A or GH62 Arabinofuranosidase B. Blend consists of 5% GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A or GH62 Arabinofuranosidase B, 15% of GH10 Xylanase A, and the remaining 80% from Celluclast. For comparison, blend containing Celluclast and GH10 Xylanase A only (no GH62) was included. The corn fiber with 16.67% residual starch and 10.77% residual protein was used as substrate in the fiber assay. Release of starch+gluten (dry substance) as well as individual starch and protein from corn fiber at the specified doses below was measured.

TABLE 2 Dose (ug enzyme Starch + Individual Individual protein/g Gluten Starch Protein Treatments corn) Recovered Recovered Recovered No Enzyme 0  9.75% 4.95% 4.80% Celluclast + GH10 30 13.95% 8.29% 5.66% Xylanase A Celluclast + GH10 28.5 13.50% 8.03% 5.47% Xylanase A Celluclast + GH10 30 15.40% 9.58% 5.82% Xylanase A + GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A Celluclast + GH10 30 15.20% 9.46% 5.74% Xylanase A + GH62 Arabinofuranosidase B

As shown in table 2 the addition of GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A and GH62 Arabinofuranosidase B on top of Celluclast+GH10 Xylanase A can significantly increase the yield of starch+gluten in corn wet-milling process.

Example 10: Use of GH10 Xylanase, GH30 Xylanase and/or GH62 Arabinofuranosidase

A 10-g fiber assay was performed at pH 3.8, with incubation at 52° C. for 1 hour and a dosage of 35 ug enzyme protein per gram corn, using enzyme blends containing GH10 Xylanase A, GH30 Xylanase A, GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A, and Celluclast with the detailed ratio of 35 ug EP/g corn as below table.

TABLE 3 GH10 GH30 GH62 Xylanase Xylanase Arabinofur- Celluclast A A anosidase A (ug-EP/g (ug-EP/g (ug-EP/g (ug-EP/g Treatments corn) corn) corn) corn) No Enzyme 0 0 0 0 Celluclast 35 0 0 0 Celluclast + GH10 28 5.25 0 1.75 Xylanase A + GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A Celluclast + GH10 28 5.25 1.75 0 Xylanase A + GH30 Xylanase A Celluclast + GH30 28 0 5.25 1.75 Xylanase A + GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A Celluclast + GH10 28 3.5 1.75 1.75 Xylanase A + GH30 Xylanase A + GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A

For comparison, an enzyme composition containing only Celluclast was included. A corn fiber with 15.52% residual starch and 12.00% residual protein in fiber was used as substrate in the fiber assay. Release of starch+gluten (dry substance) from the corn fiber at the specified dosage was measured; the results are provided in the table 4 below.

TABLE 4 Dose Starch + (ug enzyme Gluten Treatments protein/g corn) Recovered No Enzyme 0 4.39% Celluclast 35 6.68% Celluclast + GH10 Xylanase A + GH62 35 9.40% Arabinofuranosidase A Celluclast + GH10 Xylanase A + GH30 35 9.45% Xylanase A Celluclast + GH30 Xylanase A + GH62 35 8.55% Arabinofuranosidase A Celluclast + GH10 Xylanase A + GH30 35 9.70% Xylanase A + GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A

As shown in table 4, the addition of combined GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A+GH30 Xylanase A on top of Celluclast+GH10 Xylanase A can significantly increase the yield of starch+gluten in corn wet-milling process.

Example 11: Preparation of Sterilized Palm Fruit Mesocarp

Step Action 1 In palm oil mill, oil palm FFBs (fresh fruit bunches) are received directly from the field, subjected to sterilization in industrial autoclave (120° C. for 120 minutes) and then threshed to obtain oil palm fruitlets along with calyx leaves. Collect the sterilized palm fruitlets. 2 Separate the oil palm fruitlets and discard the rest of the biomass [calyx leaves and small pieces of fruit bunch stalk (called as empty fruit bunch or EFB)]. 3 Pack the fruitlets in an autoclavable plastic cover and cook it in a kitchen pressure cooker (10 L Capacity; Aluminum) for below induction cooktop program: Program Name: Pressure Cooker Time: 30 minutes Watt/Temperature: 1300 W/180° C. 4 Spread the cooked fruitlets in a tray and allow it to cool down to approximately 50° C. 5 Peel off the mesocarp from the nut. Collect the mesocarp in a pre-weighed plastic storage container and record the weight. 6 Record the weight of nuts and discard it. 7 The peeled mesocarp is stored at 4° C. until use.

Example 12: Preparation of Substrate

The sterilized palm fruit mesocarp is pressed:

Step Action 1 Mash required amount of mesocarp in mash bath at ~200 r.p.m. for: a. 3 minutes, if mesocarp quantity is more than 2 Kilograms. b. 2 minutes, if mesocarp quantity is 2-1 Kilograms. 2 Manually mix the mashed mesocarp until it is uniformly mixed

Example 13: 10 gms Assay Protocol for Palm Substrate

1. 10 g of prepared mash is aliquoted into 50 ml Falcon tubes with intermittent mixing to ensure substrate homogeneity. Note down the exact weight of substrate weighed;

2. Also, note down the empty weight of plastic pertriplates that are to be used for collecting extracted oil;

3. Pre-condition the tubes with substrate, keeping them at 90° C. for 5 minutes;

4. Transfer the tubes to respective incubation temperature (55° C.) water bath and pre-condition them for 10 minutes;

5. Inoculate the tubes with 500 μL of water in case of Control and 500 μL of enzyme solution in case of other enzyme treatments;

6. After adding enzyme/water, mix the contents with a microspatula 5 times in clock-wise and 5 times in anti-clockwise direction to ensure proper mixing;

7. Incubate for specified time (15 mins/30 mins) with intermittent mixing at every 15th minute of incubation with spatula, as specified in Step 6;

8. At the end of incubation, add 20 ml of water into each tube and mix well;

9. For clarification, transfer the tubes to 90° C. water bath and allow it to clarify for 30 mins;

10. Centrifuge the tubes in table top centrifuge at 7000 rpm, 30° C. for 10 min to get oil layer at the top;

11. Pipette out the oil layer into pre-weighed petriplates. Use hot water to completely extract free oil from each tube;

12. Note down the weight of petriplates with extracted oil;

13. The oil yield can by calculated by: Oil yield=Weight of petri dish containing oil extracted—Weight of empty petri dish.

TABLE 5 mg Enzyme for Oil yield in Samples 10 g substrate grams Control no enzyme 2.88 ± 0.2 GH10 Xylanase A + GH62 0.12 + 0.04 3.18 ± 0.1 Arabinofuranosidase A

As shown in table 5 the addition of GH10 Xylanase A and GH62 Arabinofuranosidase A can increase the oil yield from 10 gms of palm mesocarp. 

1. A process for treating crop kernels, comprising the steps of: a) soaking kernels in water to produce soaked kernels; b) grinding the soaked kernels; and c) treating the soaked kernels or a fraction of said crop kernels in the presence of an effective amount of a polypeptide having GH62 arabinofuranosidase activity and/or a polypeptide having GH10 xylanase activity; wherein step c) is performed before, during or after step b).
 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the process further comprises fiber washing step.
 3. The process of claim 1, wherein the process further comprises starch gluten separation step and starch washing step.
 4. The process of claim 1, wherein step c) is performed during fiber washing step.
 5. The process of claim 1, wherein the soaking is performed in the presence of between 0.01-1% SO₂ and/or NaHSO₃.
 6. The process of claim 1, wherein the crop kernels are from corn (maize), rice, barley, sorghum bean, or fruit hulls, or wheat.
 7. The process of claim 1, further comprising treating the soaked crop kernels or a fraction of said crop kernels in the presence of one or more cellulolytic enzymes.
 8. The process of claim 1, wherein said crop kernels or a fraction of said crop kernels is admixed with said one or more hydrolytic enzymes.
 9. The process of claim 1, further comprising treating the soaked crop kernels or a fraction of said crop kernels in the presence of a polypeptide having GH30 xylanase activity.
 10. The process of claim 1, further comprising treating the soaked crop kernels or a fraction of said crop kernels in the presence of an enzyme selected from the group consisting of a cellulolytic enzyme or a cellulase, an endoglucanase, a protease, a cellobiohydrolase I, a cellobiohydrolase II, a GH61 polypeptide, or a combination thereof.
 11. The process of claim 1, wherein the GH62 polypeptide having arabinofuranosidase activity is derived from a strain of genus Aspergillus.
 12. The process of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide having GH62 arabinofuranosidase activity is selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide having at least 85%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or 100% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 or the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 3; and b) a variant of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 or the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 3 comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more (several) positions.
 13. The process of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide having GH10 xylanase activity is derived from a strain of the genus Aspergillus.
 14. The process of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide having GH10 xylanase activity is selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide having at least 85% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4; and b) a variant of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4 comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more positions.
 15. The process of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide having GH30 xylanase activity is selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide having at least 85% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6; and b) a variant of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6 comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more (several) positions.
 16. The process of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide having GH30 xylanase activity is derived from a strain of the genus Bacillus.
 17. The process of claim 1, wherein the fiber washing step comprises a space configured to provide a total retention time in the fiber washing system of at least 0.5 hour.
 18. A polypeptide having GH62 arabinofuranosidase activity, selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide having at least 85% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1; b) a variant of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more (several) positions; and c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 85% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or the cDNA sequence thereof.
 19. (canceled)
 20. A polypeptide having GH10 xylanase activity, selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide having at least 85% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4; b) a variant of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4 comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion at one or more positions; and c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 85% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or the cDNA sequence thereof. 21-26. (canceled) 